5 cool technologies Lockheed Martin workers can experiment with

The new 6,500-square-foot innovation lab at Lockheed Martin will be a virtual toy box for employees who want to experiment and work on projects that can use the latest in technology.

With 7,000 employees in Orlando, company leaders hope it provides a place for ideas to come to fruition, which ultimately could lead to new products for the defense giant.

The new offerings include 3D printers, drones and augmented reality-based technologies.

Here is a quick look at some of the new opportunities they will have to drive research at the Innovation Center.

Marco Santana / Orlando Sentinel

Drones sit on a table in the new innovation center at Lockheed Martin

Drones sit on a table in the new innovation center at Lockheed Martin (Marco Santana / Orlando Sentinel)

DRONE LAB

Employees have access to several drones and drone-related technologies in the IRIS lab to do their work. There are test benches for modeling, assembling and 3D printing drone designs.

Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel

Lockheed Martin lead engineer Gavin Barnes, demonstrates a lower-body exoskeleton he is developing in Orlando. The technology is being developed to give soldiers and first responders an increased ability and endurance to climb and walk long distances with less effort.

Lockheed Martin lead engineer Gavin Barnes, demonstrates a lower-body exoskeleton he is developing in Orlando. The technology is being developed to give soldiers and first responders an increased ability and endurance to climb and walk long distances with less effort. (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)

ROBOTICS LAB

This space will provide an opportunity for employees to experiment with robotics tech. Already, lead engineer Gavin Barnes, who has been working on a lower-body exoskeleton in Orlando, has been able to use the wide-open space to develop it.

A portion of the Genesis Lab, where employees can find Arduinos, Raspberry Pis and other high-powered computers, provides workers access to tools necessary to work on augmented and virtual reality, with a VIVE headset available for use.

Marco Santana/Orlando Sentinel

Thomas Hiromoto of Lockheed Martin shows off the 3D printers in the company's new 6,500-square-foot innovation lab.

Thomas Hiromoto of Lockheed Martin shows off the 3D printers in the company's new 6,500-square-foot innovation lab. (Marco Santana/Orlando Sentinel)

3D PRINTERS

Five 3D printers — of different sizes and capabilitiesIn — line a table near the back exit of the Genesis Lab. Here, employees can design products or objects and let the 3D printer create it immediately.

A large screen allows for collaboration with remote teams through high-tech displays.

A large screen allows for collaboration with remote teams through high-tech displays.

MEETING ROOM, VISUALIZATION LAB

Two separate rooms provide a space for teams to collaborate and also to test designs through visualization software that helps bring concept to animated life.

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